Adjustable motorcycle seat

ABSTRACT

A two-part seat assembly for a motorcycle like vehicle has an operator&#39;s seat that is hingedly mounted to enable adjustment of its angle of inclination, and thereby to enable alteration of the operator&#39;s body attitude. Skirt portions are provided on the operator&#39;s seat to conceal the mechanism by which adjustment of the seat position is achieved, and to hide the frame parts and the concavity in which the operator&#39;s seat resides.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Motorcycle seats which have defined portions for the operator and thepassenger, and which may also have backrest structures, presently enjoywidespread popularity; such a seat is described in Hanagan U.S. Pat. No.4,125,285. In the past, cycle seats having a variety of adjustmentfeatures have been proposed, an example of which is the constructiondisclosed in Bowen U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,974, which provides a pivotalbackrest behind the rider's position. Seats that are themselvesangularly adjustable have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,164,207 toPawsat, 2,080,658 to Duffy and 3,891,333 to Coderac'k. Tiltable seatsfor purposes other than use on motorcycles or other vehicles have alsobeen described in the art, such as the drummer's seat shown in Bock U.S.Pat. No. 3,580,634.

In a motorcycle, it is especially desirable that the operator's seat beadjustable through a range of angles, so that the rider can change hisbody position, or attitude. This is beneficial not only to achieve agenerally comfortable relationship to the handlebars and the foot pegsof the cycle, but also to realize the advantages that different bodypositions can provide in combating fatigue during extended travelperiods.

While such adjustability of the operator's seat is, in and of itself, ofprime importance, it is also a matter of considerable concern that theseat offer such capability without detracting from its overallappearance. If the mechanism by which adjustability is achieved was, forexample, exposed, or if unsightly gaps were presented as a result ofchanges in seat position, the structure would be unacceptable from anaesthetic standpoint. It goes without saying that, in addition to theforegoing features, any such seat must exhibit high structural strengthand must offer good overall comfort, as can be provided only by properframe construction and suitable cushioning means.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention toprovide a novel two-part seat assembly for a motorcyle or like vehicle,in which the operator's seat is angularly adjustable between at leasttwo positions, and preferably through a range of positions therebetween,so as to enable the rider to change his body attitude relative to thecycle.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such an assembly inwhich the adjustment mechanism and the space for the operator's seat areconcealed from view, regardless of the operative position of the latter,thereby maintaining an attractive appearance for the assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide an assembly having theforegoing features and advantages, which is also rugged and durable, andrelatively uncomplicated and inexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects of theinvention are readily attained in a two-part seat assembly comprising apassenger's seat and an operator's seat, the passenger's seat includingan elongated principal base and the operator's seat including asecondary base. The principal base has means thereon for attachment tothe frame of the vehicle, and has a seat member disposed adjacent oneend thereof. The operator's seat is spaced from the passenger's seatmember toward the other end of the principal base, and means is providedthereat for hingedly interconnecting the principal and secondary bases,to enable pivoting of the operator's seat between lowered and elevatedpositions. In the fully lowered position, the secondary base liesclosely adjacent the principal base, whereas in the elevated positionthe secondary base is inclined upwardly therefrom. At least one of theseats of the assembly has adjustable means thereon providing underlyingsupport for the operator's seat in its elevated position, and theoperator's seat member includes a seat portion and lateral skirtportions depending along the opposite sides thereof, the latter beingdimensioned and configured to substantially conceal the principal basein both positions of the operator's seat.

In the preferred embodiments, the adjustable means will be adapted toprovide underlying support in a range of positions between the fullylowered and fully elevated positions of the operator's seat. Such meansmay suitably comprise a member that is threadably engaged on the "one"seat and extends toward the other seat, and is concealed between theskirt portions of the operator's seat. Most desirably, the adjustablemeans will comprise a pair of jacking studs mounted upon the secondarybase at laterally-spaced locations.

It will generally be desirable to provide corresponding cooperatingprojecting elements and recesses on the principal base and the secondarybase that are so dimensioned, configured and arranged that the elementsengage within the recesses. In the most desirable embodiments, thesecondary base of the operator's seat will include an upstanding panelthat is disposed adjacent the rearward end thereof, to provide backreststructure thereon. The seat members will normally comprise moldedcushions made of a foamed synthetic resinous material, with theabove-mentioned backrest structure providing support for one suchcushion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seat assembly embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1, withthe operator's seat pivoted away from the principal base to show theconstruction of the base members used in the assembly;

FIG. 3 a side elevational view of the seat assembly of the foregoingFigures with the operator's seat in its fully lowered position, portionsof the assembly being broken away to expose internal constructionfeatures;

FIG. 4 a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the operator's seat in analternate position elevated from the lowered position of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 a fragmentary perspective view of a section of the secondarybase, showing the fully retracted position of one of the jacking screws;and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing an extended position of thejacking screw.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

Turning now in detail to the appended drawings, therein illustrated is aseat assembly embodying the present invention and consisting of anoperator's seat and a passenger's seat, generally designated by thenumberals 10, 12, respectively. The operator's seat 10 has a seat membercomprised of a seat portion 14, a backrest portion 16, and dependinglateral skirt portions 18 along the sides. The passenger's seat includesa seat member 20, which is disposed behind the seat member of theoperator's seat 10.

The passenger's seat member 20 is disposed adjacent the rearward end ofthe principal base 22, and a hinge 24 is affixed adjacent the forwardedge thereof. The hinge 24 serves to pivotably join the secondary base26 of the operator's seat 10 to the principal base 22, the secondarybase 26 being dimensioned and configured to seat within the space orwell that is defined generally by the principal base 22 forwardly of theseat member 20, thereby permitting the two seats to nest neatlytogether.

As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the principal base 22 is formed with avariety of bosses, including hemispherical boss 28, shield-shaped boss30, square boss 32, and two rib-shaped bosses 34. The secondary base 26is formed with corresponding recesses (designated with correspondingnumbers to which primes have been added), and it also has bosses 36, 38,which are duplicated as indentations on the principal base 22. In thefully nested position of the seats, the several bosses will lie withinthe corresponding recesses.

The seat members are comprised of cushions, which are conventionallymade of a foamed synthetic resinous material, such as foamedpolyurethane, molded to the desired configuration; the operator's seatcushion is numbered 40, and that of the passenger's seat is numbered 42.A suitable covering material (not numbered), such as of a heavy gaugevinyl plastic, covers the cushions to provide the necessary integrityand desirable appearance to the assembly, as is also standard practice.

The secondary base 26 includes an upstanding part 44, which supports therear of the cushion 40 and thereby cooperatively provides the backrestportion 16 of the operator's seat 10. A pair of apertures 46 are formedthrough the base 26, across each of which lies (within the body of theseat 10) a bracket 48 for a threaded element, such as a nut (notvisible). The nut engages the threaded shaft 50 of a jacking screw,generally designated by the numeral 52, which has a rubber tip 54mounted on its outer end; these features are best seen in FIG. 6, whichillustrates the jacking screw 52 in an extended position. The retractedposition of the jacking screw 52 is illustrated in FIG. 5, whichcorresponds to the fully lowered position of the operator's seat 10shown in FIG. 3; the jacking screw position shown in FIG. 6 correspondsto the elevated seat position of FIG. 4. As will readily be understood,the inclination of the seat 10 is adjusted merely by turning the jackingscrews 52 inwardly or outwardly, depending upon whether it is to belowered or raised, respectively. Obviously, the hinge 24 and thethreaded shafts 50 permit virtually an infinite number of positions tobe assumed beyond the extremes.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the principal base 22 also carries on itsforward end, beneath the hinge connection 24, a mounting fixture 56,which is dimensioned and configured to receive a projecting part of thecycle frame (not shown). The attachment thus provided cooperates withother mounting means (also not shown) located on the principal frame 22in a rearwardly spaced position, such as may be comprise a plurality ofbolts received through suitable portions of the cycle frame and engagedwithin the seat assembly.

It is most important to note that, regardless of whether the operator'sseat 10 is in its lowered position, as in FIG. 3, or its most elevatedposition, as in FIG. 4, the skirt portions 18 extend to the principalbase 22, and thereby obscure all internal structure, including the baseitself, the jacking screws 52, and most of the well that is defined infront of the seat member 20. This minimizes visual discontinuity, andlends a high degree of attractiveness to the overall appearance of theseat assembly.

Although not illustrated it should be understood that the assembly ofthe invention may employ a seat portion 20 that is similarly adjustableto vary its angle of inclination, to thereby afford benefits to thepassenger comparable to those enjoyed by the operator. In such aconstruction, it will be appreciated that similar depending skirtportions 18 will normally be provided, so as to preserve the desirableappearance of the seat assembly. It should also be understood that awide variety of members can be used to adjustably support the operator'sseat in its various positions. For example, wedge-shaped members thatcan be fixed in positions of different spacing from the hinge might besubstituted for the jacking screws. Also, rather than being threaded,jacking studs with discrete engagement recesses along their length, suchas for cooperation with locking pins or detents, might be used.

Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides a noveltwo-part seat assembly for a motorcycle or like vehicle, in which theoperator's seat is angularly adjustable between at least two positions,and preferably through a range of positions therebetween, so as toenable the rider to change his body attitude relative to the cycle. Inthe assembly, the adjustment mechanism and the space for the operator'sseat are concealed from view, regardless of the operative position ofthe latter, to thereby maintain an attractive appearance; the assemblyis rugged and durable, and relatively uncomplicated and inexpensive tomanufacture.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. A two-partseat assembly for a motorcycle or like vehicle, comprising: apassenger's seat including an elongated principal base having meansthereon for attachment to the frame of the vehicle, and having a seatmember thereon adjacent one end thereof; an operator's seat disposed onsaid principal base towards the other end thereof from said passenger'sseat member, said operator's seat including a secondary base; meanshingedly connecting said principal base and said secondary base adjacentsaid other end of said principal base, said operator's seat beingpivotable about said means between a lowered position thereof, with saidsecondary base lying closely adjacent said principal base, and anelevated position in which said secondary base is inclined upwardlytherefrom, at least one of said seats having adjustable means thereonproviding underlying support for said operator's seat in at least saidelevated position thereof, said operator's seat including a seat membercomprised of a seat portion and lateral skirt portions depending alongthe opposite sides thereof, said skirt portions being dimensioned andconfigured to extend in the direction of said principal base a distancethat is sufficient to substantially conceal said base in both of saidoperator's seat positions.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein saidadjustable means is adapted to provide underlying support in a range ofpositions between said first and second positions of said operator'sseat.
 3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said adjustable means comprisesa member threadably engaged on said one seat and extending toward theother of said seats, said member being disposed between said skirtportions of said operator's seat and hence being concealed thereby. 4.The assembly of claim 2 wherein adjustable means comprises a pair ofjacking studs mounted upon said secondary base in laterally spacedlocations.
 5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said principal base andsaid secondary base have corresponding projecting elements and recessesformed therein.
 6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said secondary baseincludes an upstanding part disposed adjacent the rearward end thereof,to provide back-support structure on said operator's seat.
 7. Theassembly of claim 1 wherein said seat members comprise moulded cushionsfabricated from a foamed synthetic resinous material